The B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame is inducting two new members at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival on March 17; and one of them is Nicola Valley cowboy Miles Kingdon, who has worked for some of the most storied ranches in the Interior during his 40 years as a working cowboy.
During that time, he has worn out several custom saddles, beginning at the Douglas Lake Ranch. His experience there set the stage for later lead positions at other large commercial ranches in the Nicola Valley, including cowboss positions on the Bar K and Gang Ranches. He was also manager at the Empire Valley Ranch, and spent 10 years as manager of cattle operations at the Quilchena Cattle Company.
Kingdon has a true cowboy’s grasp of practical horsemanship and livestock handling in all weather conditions and all possible circumstances, thanks to the geographic diversity of the outfits he has worked for. He also recognizes the true meaning of an equine partnership built on trust, confidence, and respect. He has spent time in Mexico and California studying horsemanship, and has years of colt starting; knowledge and traditions he is now passing on through horsemanship and horse training clinics.
Kingdon has judged numerous working ranch horse competitions, as well as the California Bridle Horse show, which celebrates the unique skills of the California vaquero, or cowboy. He now manages a yearling pasture for the Nicola Ranch, and cowboys for the Coldstream Ranch when needed.
The B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame was started by the B.C. Cowboy Heritage Society in 1998, to recognize the hard work of the often overlooked or forgotten cowboys (male and female) who helped, and continue to help, shape the province. Members of the B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame include area natives and residents Henry Schneider, Pat Baker, Hugh Cornwall, Antoine Allen, and Floyd Grinder.
Kingdon is being inducted in the Working Horseman/Cowboy category. Tickets for the ceremony—which takes place at the Kamloops Coast Hotel and Convention Centre—are available; call 1-888-763-2221, or email www.bcchs.com, to reserve a ticket.